Hinduism is India's native religious and cultural system, followed today by nearly one billion followers, mostly in India, but with large populations in many other countries. Also called Sanatana Dharma, "eternal religion," and Vaidika Dharma, "religion of the Vedas," Hinduism covers a broad range of philosophies spanning from polytheism to monotheism. It is a family of countless faiths with four primary denominations: Saivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism and Smartism. These four hold such differing beliefs that each is a complete and independent religion. …
